Mercedes-Benz plans to expand its Mercedes-Maybach range with an SUV based on the third-gen Mercedes-GLS. According to a report from Autocar, the Mercedes-Maybach GLS will debut at the 2019 Beijing Motor Show in April 2019, albeit in a concept form.
Mercedes-Benz has received tremendous success with the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class. Last year, it comprised more than 10% of the total S-Class sales. Now, the company has decided to launch a Maybach variant of its flagship SUV to lure ultra-luxurious SUV buyers.
Mercedes-Benz will introduce the Mercedes-Maybach GLS first as a concept, internally known as the Mercedes-Maybach 9. Insiders sharing this development say that this model will feature a bold new grille among other exclusive elements and also flaunt upmarket features like autonomous driving functions, which will follow in the production version.
The production Mercedes-Maybach GLS will have its world debut at the 2019 LA Auto Show in November 2019 and go on sale the same year. Mercedes-Benz is likely to offer the MHA platform-based flagship SUV exclusively with the Mercedes-AMG-developed M177 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol engine. This engine produces 345 kW (469 PS) and 700 Nm of torque in the Mercedes-Maybach S 560 4MATIC saloon.
The three-pointed star is also evaluating the possibility of offering the Mercedes S 560 e’s petrol-electric plug-in hybrid drive system that combines a 270 kW (367 PS) 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine with a 90 kW (122 PS) electric motor. The plug-in hybrid saloon has a pure electric driving range of around 50 km.
Also Read: 2018 Mercedes S-Class launched in India at a starting price of INR 1.33 Crore
Production of the next-gen Mercedes GLS and the first-ever Mercedes-Maybach GLS will take place at the Alabama plant in the USA. The Mercedes-Maybach GLS will go up against the likes of Bentley Bentayga and Range Rover SVAutobiography.
[Source: Autocar]
